Naomh Columba back in the race

naomh Columba got themselves back in the promotion race with an important win at home on Saturday evening.

naomh Columba got themselves back in the promotion race with an important win at home on Saturday evening.

Naomh Columba 1-12

Buncrana 1-9

Naomh Columba picked up another two league points on Saturday evening, when they saw off the challenge of the men from Inishowen at a blustery Páirc na nGael. The first half was an altogether one-sided affair, with the home side scoring a total of 1-9 unanswered.

Noel McGinley was first on the scoresheet, when he knocked over a point in the sixth minute after Noel O’Donnell in the Buncrana nets saved two close range shots on goal from Francis McGinley.

Declan McGuire found the net a minute later, after Oisín McGinley offloaded a high ball sent into him by Andrew O’Gara. Oisín McGinley added his first point of the day in the 8th minute, and added a further point from free in the 14th, after a point from O’Gara.

McGuire pointed in the 15th minute, before Noel McGinley added a further two from play. Liam Boyle wrapped up the half for the home side, with two points from play in the 22nd and 27th minute. Half time score: Naomh Columba 1-9 Bun Cranncha 0-0.

The visitors staged somewhat of a comeback in the second half, the first fifteen minutes of which saw them put 1-4 on the board unanswered. Caolan McCann registered a point from free in the 33rd minute, before Ryan Curran found the back of the net in the 36th, when a scuffle in the square saw him blast the ball past Shane O’Gara in the Glen nets.

McCann converted another free in the 38th, followed by a point from play on the 42 minute mark. Stephen McFadden brought the tally to 1.04, before Dermot McGuire pointed the home side’s first score of the half, in the 44th minute.

It could have gone either way for Christopher McDermott when his shot hit the crossbar in the 45th, but the ball popped over much to the home side’s relief. Oisín Doherty closed the gap to 4 points for the Buncrana men in the 47th, before Conor Butler (Naomh Columba) and Ronan Doherty (Buncrana) traded points in the 50th and 52nd minutes respectively.

Andrew O’Gara pointed for Glen in the 57th minute to open the gap to five once more, but two points from Caolan McCann in the closing minutes, one from free.

Carndonagh maintained their push for promotion with an eight point victory over Downings on Saturday night in Downings.

Gavin McGrenra was once again the Inishowen men’s top scorer with a goal and three points while Gary ‘Ban’ McClafferty was the leading marksman for the home team. Full-back David Hay scored the Downings goal late in the second half.

Carndonagh led 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time with McGrenra scoring his goal in the middle of the opening period. Colin Gallagher (2) and McClafferty (2) were the Downings’ first half- scorers.

Downings through McClafferty (2) and Eric Roberts did reduce the margin to three early in the second half but Carndonagh responded with six unanswered points before David Hay found the Carn net in injury time for what was no more than a consolation goal.

Urris turned the form book on its head with a five star second half performance against St. Naul’s in Urris on Saturday evening.

The locals were a point down 1-4 to 0-8 at half-time with James Griffin scoring the goal for Urris and Stephen Griffin, who kicked 0-7 of St. Naul’s total, posting the bulk of his side’s first half points.

After being on the back foot for most of the opening 30 minutes, Urris, with the wind in their back dominated for most of the second half and with Dean Kelly and Darren Grant leading the charge they outscored Naul’s by six points to two in the second 30 minutes.

The first half sending off of Martin Breslin didn’t deter St Michaels who hung in and drew this game with a late Keelan McGee point. The game was a tight affair and only one point separated the sides at half time, St. Michaels having the upper hand at 0-5 to 0-4.

The early second half exchanges seemed to point to Four Masters using the extra man well, as they registered four scores without reply, two of these expertly taken from play by Benny Cassidy. St Michaels dug deep though and outscored their hosts by 5 points to one in the last quarter to earn a well deserved draw.

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